Transportation & Infrastructure Trend Analysis Meeting Summary

Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes
Taylor County Vision 2060
July 19, 2007
Taylor County 2060 Trend Analysis

Roadways

• Future development will require significant capital improvements to the existing roadway system. If developments are smaller in size and/or are spread throughout a large geographical area, local and state government may be responsible for most, if not all, of the expenditures.
  • Between 2007 and 2020, no significant improvements are anticipated.
  • Between 2020 and 2040, state improvements, such as to US 221, could total $35 million. Local improvements, such as to CR 361, could total $45 million.
  • Between 2040 and 2060, state improvements, such as to US 98 west of Perry, could total approximately $150 million. Local costs, such as to CR 361A, could total $225 million.
  • All costs are in 2007 dollars and do not include right-of-way acquisition. The overall intent of the roadway improvements would be to maintain a level-of-service no worse than “C”, or nearing capacity.
• The same traffic patterns and growth that affect the county as a whole would also have a significant impact on the City of Perry.
  • The state may seek to develop a by-pass around the city, particularly along the eastern boundary to connect US 221 to US 19.
  • As an alternative to a by-pass, the state may improve traffic flow through the city by widening urban streets and limiting access.

Potable Water Supply

• Most development will require central water services. If this development is near an existing system, it will likely connect to that system. However, if it is some distance from any existing system, the development may construct its own water treatment plant and distribution system.
  • Between 2007 and 2020, two or three new private water treatment plants and systems are likely to be constructed and financed by private developers. However, needed expansions to existing public or district-owned plants and systems could total $15 million.
  • Between 2020 and 2040, an additional three or four new private water treatment plants and systems are likely to be constructed and financed by private developers. However, needed expansions to existing public or district-owned plants and systems could total $2 million. Furthermore, existing public or district-owned plants, specifically Taylor Beaches and Steinhatchee, may need to be replaced at costs that could total $45 million.
  • Between 2040 and 2060, an additional two or three new private water treatment plants and systems are likely to be constructed and financed by private developers. However, needed expansions to existing public or district-owned plants and systems could total $15 million.
  • All costs are for capital improvement projects and are in 2007 dollars. Each project would include either construction or expansion of a treatment and pumping facility, as well as the distribution lines and fixtures.
• The capital improvement costs described above do not include any operation costs. However, these costs would likely be covered by costumer fees.
• In many other Florida counties, privately-built water systems have often failed in some manner, requiring the county to purchase, repair, and operate the system. Consequently, the county has to operate many small plants and systems, each with different equipment and methods. There are also many small but significant water withdrawal points, which are more difficult to model from a groundwater standpoint than a few larger withdrawal points.
• The expansions of the existing systems could result in more widespread use of potable water for irrigation purposes.
• Alternatively, since there is no existing requirement for development to be connected to central utilities, many developments may rely on individual water wells for each home site. This could be particularly true in the northern part of the county, which could result in over 10,000 new individual water wells.

Wastewater Disposal

• Most development will require central wastewater services. If this development is near an existing system, it will likely connect to that system. However, if it is some distance from any existing system, the development may construct its own wastewater treatment plant and distribution system.
  • Between 2007 and 2020, two or three new private wastewater treatment plants and systems are likely to be constructed and financed by developers. However, needed expansions to existing public or district-owned plants and systems could total $20 million.
  • Between 2020 and 2040, an additional three or four new private water treatment plants and systems are likely to be constructed and financed by private developers. However, needed expansions to existing public or district-owned plants and systems could total $3 million. Furthermore, existing public or district-owned plants, specifically Taylor Beaches and Steinhatchee, may need to be replaced at costs that could total $65 million.
  • Between 2040 and 2060, an additional two or three new private water treatment plants and systems are likely to be constructed and financed by private developers. However, needed expansions to existing public or district-owned plants and systems could total $35 million.
  • All costs are for capital improvement projects and are in 2007 dollars. Each project would include either construction or expansion of a treatment and pumping facility, as well as collection lines, distribution lines (for reclaimed water), and fixtures.
• The capital improvement costs described above do not include any operation costs. However, these costs would likely be covered by costumer fees.
• In many other Florida counties, privately-built wastewater systems have often failed in some manner, requiring the county to purchase, repair, and operate the system. Consequently, the county has to operate many small plants and systems, each with different equipment and methods. There are also many discharge points for treated effluent, all of which require monitoring.

• Alternatively, since there is no existing requirement for development to be connected to central utilities, many developments may rely on individual on-site septic systems for each home site. This could be particularly true in the northern part of the county, which could result in over 10,000 new individual on-site septic systems.

Schools

• Even though much of the anticipated development will be either age-targeted communities or vacation/second homes, both the commuter-based development in the northern part of the county, as well as new workforce development for required services, will result in more students.
• These students will require additional student stations, requiring more schools. The capital improvements costs noted below would be to not exceed 100% capacity of the schools.
  • In 2007, there are approximately 4,400 student stations in five schools.
  • Between 2007 and 2020, approximately 1,300 additional student stations will be required. This demand would likely be met through expansion of existing schools or possible the construction of a new elementary/middle school, which could total $15 million.
  • Between 2020 and 2040, approximately 5,100 additional student stations will be required. This demand could be met through the construction of four new elementary schools, two new middle schools, and one new high school, which could total $65 million.
  • Between 2040 and 2060, approximately 6,200 additional student stations would be required. This demand could be met though the construction of five new elementary schools, three new middle schools, and one new high school, which could total $75 million
  • All costs are in 2007 dollars and are based on average cost of construction and average square foot area of building per student station.

• These costs are capital expenditures only and do not include operational costs. Furthermore, these costs would not necessarily result in an expansion of services, course offerings, or extra curricular activities.

Hospitals

• New development of any kind will demand more health care services.
• The immediate costs of these services will be new capital projects.
  • The current capacity of Doctors Memorial Hospital is 48 beds.
  • Between 2007 and 2020, in order to maintain the current bed to person ratio for the county, 33 new beds will be needed, which could total $25 million.
  • Between 2020 and 2040, in order to maintain the current bed to person ratio for the county, 108 new beds will be needed, which could total $90 million.
  • Between 2040 and 2060, in order to maintain the current bed to person ratio for the county, 201 new beds will be needed, which could total $165 million.
  • All costs are in 2007 dollars and are based on average cost per bed.
• Hospitals in many other growing counties have “planted” satellite hospitals closer to new development to better service the population.

• These costs are capital expenditures only and do not include operational costs. Furthermore, these costs would not include other types of services, such as primary care offices and clinics.

Parks, Recreation, Trails, Transit, and Other Infrastructure

• Much of this development will be “vehicle-based”, resulting in limited public transportation options, if any. Furthermore, with the development widespread in nature, a public transportation system would struggle to meet the needs of the community.
• Widespread development would limit the potential for a comprehensive trails system.
• Amenities, parks, and recreational areas constructed for private developments will likely allow limited or no access to the general public.
• Access to the coastline will likely remain limited to public lands and residents of coastal developments.
• Developments are widespread and located near the coastline, internal waterways, and the edges of county, all of which are away from existing hospitals, EMS stations, and central fire stations.
• Developments, especially seasonal, second, and vacation homes, may demand better air service, which will require publicly-paid improvements to airport.
• Developments will demand county-wide solid waste collection. Since the developments are so widespread, this collection service will have very long haul distances.
• Oversight of stormwater quality and quantity will likely be provided solely by the water management district, which will be based on region-wide criteria rather than local conditions.